PG seeks proposals for elementary site

District considers property along Christus Drive

Pleasant Grove Independent School District’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution late Tuesday authorizing a request for proposals to acquire property for a new elementary school.

The resolution was the last item approved by the board, about 9:45 p.m., after a lengthy closed session during a special meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Smith said the board is looking at about 10 acres of land on Christus Drive and Galleria Oaks. He said the district is considering exchanging approximately 4.2 acres of property at the current elementary site for the new land, but that they are required by the state of Texas to issue requests for proposals before proceeding.

Smith said there may be another 10-acre site in the district that would also be suitable for the new school. Information on the location of that site was unavailable.

Smith said plans are for two notices about the proposals to be printed in the Texarkana Gazette.

“After the second notice runs, we will make evaluations and see what is there,” Smith said.

The board also approved the 201819 proposed budget and a tax rate increase Tuesday.

The new tax rate is $1.455 per $100 property valuation, an increase from last year’s rate of $1.44. Voters approved the increase in May. The $19.9-million bond is expected to cover an estimated $18,519,862 for the new school; $1.2 million for technology upgrades, which are primarily infrastructure; and $250,000 for increased school security.

The increase will cost about $15 annually for a home valued at $100,000.